York County Court Records

York County court records consist of papers, documents, exhibits, information, and briefs generated by the courts or submitted to the courts during a legal proceeding. Court records provide crucial information for the judiciary system and the public. York court records furnish individuals, legal researchers, and legal practitioners with an accurate record of what transpired during a legal case conducted within the county. In addition, court records can serve as evidence for future legal proceedings, such as appeals.

Generally, all court records emanating from York County courts must include information specific to the case. Records may contain the names of the parties to the case, their date of birth, the case number, the case type, the case status, and the filing date. County court records also provide details on the attorney, such as their names and attorney numbers. York County court records may also include the motions, briefs, pleadings, and other filings related to the case.

Are Court Records Public in York County?

Per Section 30-4-30(A)(1) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, information and documents held, produced, or filed by the judiciary in the county constitute York County public records. These records are, therefore, available for public viewing, inspection, and copying.

However, while most court records in York County are publicly available, state law prohibits access to some case files and records. These exempted records may only be accessed by a court order from a judge. Some examples include:

• Court records containing identifying information on confidential informants
• Court records where disclosure would constitute an invasion of personal privacy
• Case files sealed by a court order
• Court records that contain trade secrets
• Court records containing identifying information on court jurors
• All court records where disclosure would endanger the life of the individuals named on the record

As a result, per South Carolina law, the following court records are not publicly available in York County:

• Adoption records
• Juvenile delinquencies records
• Guardianship termination parental rights
• Income tax returns
• Hospital medical staff reports
• Alcohol and drug treatment commitment records
• Records relating to registration and circulation of library materials
• Scholastic records

The courts may also restrict public access to specific information in a court record. Social Security Numbers, financial account numbers, security information, and other personally identifiable information are redacted from York County court records.

York County Court Records Search

Judicial proceedings and court records are open to the public in South Carolina. The state provides an online resource to view court records from York County. There are also third-party platforms offering York County court records searches. While some of these services are free, others require searchers to pay a fee to view the records. In addition, record seekers may also obtain court records from the County Clerk of Courts in the courthouses where the case was heard.

York County Court Records Search by Name

Record seekers can search York County court records by name using the South Carolina Public Index Search page. To commence the search, record seekers must locate York County on the map or the list of all counties to the right of the page. Users' web browsers must support cookies and JavaScript.

York County District Court Records

District courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. They have jurisdiction over traffic infractions, violations, and misdemeanor offenses. District courts also have jurisdiction over violations of local ordinances and state law, preliminary felony matters, civil cases involving contracts, and recovery of personal property not exceeding a predetermined amount. Additionally, they may preside over ejectment proceedings, damage to personal property cases, petitions for temporary restraining orders, and petitions by tenants against landlords for restraining orders.

There are no District courts in York County. However, one federal District Court in South Carolina is known as the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. The court presides over real property, torts, civil rights, prisoner petitions, forfeiture, bankruptcy, federal tax suits, intellectual property, and immigration lawsuits.

York County Criminal Records

York County criminal records contain a list of an individual's contact with law enforcement agencies and the judicial system. Also called criminal history or 'rap sheet,' criminal records contain a list of arrests and convictions of an individual.

The Clerk of Courts in York County maintains all criminal court records and York County arrest records. In addition, South Carolina provides an online platform to look at York County criminal records. Per state law, only the individual named on the criminal records and law enforcement agencies may access the complete criminal records. Information regarding arrests and convictions is not accessible to the public.

York County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Record seekers can look up York County criminal court records using the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) database provided by the South Carolina Judiciary Branch. To commence the search, record seekers can click on York County and input the subject’s last name and first initial. In addition, the webpage requires the searcher to include the subject’s date of birth to obtain a more accurate result. When the exact file name is unknown, individuals searching for records may use Social Security Numbers to query the database.

Interested persons may also order York criminal records by mail from SLED. Persons requesting York criminal court records by mail must fill out the Criminal Records Check Form. The mail request must include a self-addressed stamped envelope and check -business, cashiers, certified, or money order for the fees. SLED charges a non-refundable fee of $25.00 for criminal court records requested by mail or through the online platform. Mail requests for York criminal court records to:

SLED Records Department
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398

Get York County Civil Court Records

York County Civil Court records are the records from civil cases in the county. Civil cases are non-criminal cases on actions such as landlord and tenant, property damage, and contract breaches.

York County civil court records include the docket sheet, court minutes, case file, and all records associated with the case. Interested persons can view York County civil court records online using the South Carolina Public Index Search Page. Search can be done using case number, tax map number, or party name.

York County Family Court Records

The York County Family Court at Rockhill handles cases concerning child support, child custody, child visitation, domestic abuse, modification of visitation, divorce, domestic abuse, order of protection, name change, and paternity.

All family court records in York County are public unless those records are exempt from disclosure. For example, Family Court records concerning juveniles are confidential per Sections 63-7-1990 and 63-19-2020 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.

Interested persons can use the Family Court Public Access for case searches. Requests for transcripts from York County Family Court are to be made in writing to the South Carolina Judicial Department. For copies of court documents, requests are to be made in person or via a written request submitted at the York County Family Court at a charge of 50 cents per page. Note that older records (20 years and older) may take some time to be made available. York County Family Court records provide information that is useful for family history.

Note: The York County Family Court does not provide record checks.

York Dissolution of Marriage Records

York dissolution of marriage records are the records created during or as a result of the dissolution of a marriage. York County marriage records include the divorce decree and the divorce report. The York County Clerk of Courts maintains the divorce decree, while the divorce report is a vital record provided by the DHEC State Vital Records Office in Columbia. Certified copies of divorce reports decreed between July 1962 and December 2022 are available from the DHEC. The average time for processing in-person requests is 30 to 45 minutes.

York County Marriage and Divorce Records

York County marriage and divorce records include marriage licenses, certificates, divorce decrees, and divorce reports. Interested persons can obtain a certified true copy of a York County marriage certificate in person through the DHEC State Vital Records Office in Columbia. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays. Applicants must complete an application form and provide a valid government, school, or employer-issued photo ID card. A certified copy costs $17. Certified copies of marriage certificates are limited to:

• The bride or groom
• An adult child or children of the married party
• A former or present spouse married to either of the married party
• A married party's legal representative

Interested persons in York County can obtain a divorce report via the DHEC State Vital Records Office in Columbia from 8:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays. Applicants must provide a completed form and a valid school, government, or employer-issued photo ID card.

Only either of the divorced parties (wife or husband), their adult child or children, a present or former spouse of either divorced persons, or their respective legal representative are eligible to apply for a divorce report. Persons interested in obtaining a certified true copy of a divorce decree should contact the York County Clerk of Courts if the divorce was filed in York County.

York Birth and Death Records

York County birth and death records are part of York County vital records, including certified copies of birth and death certificates. Persons interested in obtaining York birth and death records are to contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services at:

York County Complex
1070 Heckle Boulevard
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 909-7300

Applications are limited to persons who are:

• The person named on the certificate (required to be at least 18 years old)
• The parents named on the birth certificate
• A legal representative or a legal guardian for a person qualified to make a request

If the registrant is deceased, an immediate family member can also make a request but will be required to present an original or a certified copy.

New parents should note that a birth certificate is not automatically mailed to them. Information gathered at the time of birth of the baby is used solely for the registration of birth. Parents of newborns need to require a birth certificate using one of the available options.

Certified copies of York County birth records, such as birth certificates, can be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC) office in Columbia for $17 at:

2600 Bull Street.,
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3630

Applicants are required to have a valid school, employer, or government valid photo card.

Only Immediate family members of the deceased’s family or their legal representative can obtain a certified copy of a death certificate in York County. Certified copies cost $17, and applicants may need to complete an application form and provide a valid school, employer, or government-issued photo ID. Certified copies cost $17 each, and applicants can pick them up at the DHEC office in Colombia from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

York County birth certificates are used as proof of age, citizenship, and identification. Death certificates, on the other hand, are used to provide evidence and proof of death and to close the estate of the deceased.

York County Probate Court Records

York County’s singular Probate Court handles matters such as administrating the deceased’s estate, issuing marriage licenses, involuntary commitments, and appointing conservators and guardians.

York County Probate Court records can be obtained in person at the York County courthouse or through a written request submitted via mail. For example, interested persons requesting certified copies of marriage licenses can do this in person or send a written request via mail with the names of the couple, a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

York County Probate Court,
P.O. Box 219,
York, SC 29745.

Estate files (going back to 1977) are available on public computers at the Register of Deeds office in the Government Center and the Historic Courthouse’s Clerk of Courts Civil Division.

York County Property Records

York County property records are public records and include plats, deeds, liens, mortgages, and other documents pertaining to all real estate records and transactions in the county. York County property records are maintained in the Register of Deeds office of the Clerk of Court of York County. Applicants can obtain photocopies of deeds, plats, or other recorded documents as well as certified true copies of recorded documents at $10 per document at the office of the Register of Deeds at:

Government Center
6 South Congress Street
York, SC 29745

Records of mortgage documents (from July 1, 1982) and deeds and plats (from January 1, 1979) are also available online.

York County Court Records Online

Members of the public seeking access to York County Court Records online can use the South Carolina Public Index Search Page. Users can enter the case number, tax map number, or name of party to search. Some third-party websites like courtrecords.us also provide these records. These third-party websites allow users to access these records through a search page.

Third-party online resources remove the physical limitations associated with court records search as users of the service do not need to walk into the different courts to access court records. It is also possible to carry out multiple simultaneous searches easily. However, because these third-party sources are non-governmental, their records may not be as accurate, complete, reliable, or updated as those of the official record sources.

York County Courts

The York County court system consists of five different court types. These court types include two circuit courts, a family court, a probate court, seven magistrate courts, and five municipal courts.

Circuit Courts in York County

York County Circuit Court - Common Pleas (Civil)
2 South Congress Street, P.O. Box 649, York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 684-8507
Fax: (803) 684-8575

York County Circuit Court - General Sessions (Criminal)
Moss Justice Center
1675 York Highway, Suite 1G, P.O. Box 649, York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 628-3036
Fax: (803) 628-3133

Family Courts in York County

York County Family Court
1070 Heckle Blvd, Suite 205, PO Drawer 11746, Rock Hill, SC 29731
Phone: (803) 909-7100
Fax: (803) 909-7140

Probate Courts in York County

York County Probate Court
2 South Congress Street, P.O. Box 219, York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 684-8513
Fax: (803) 684-8536

Magistrates Courts in York County

York County Magistrate Court - Bethel/Kings Mountain (Clover)
201 South Main Street, Clover, SC 29710
Phone: (803) 675-6040
Fax: (803) 222-3653

York County Magistrate Court - Bond Court
Moss Justice Center
1675 York Highway, York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 628-3095
Fax: (803) 628-3178

York County Magistrate Court - Broad River/Bullock Creek (Hickory Grove)
5800 Wiley Avenue, Hickory Grove, SC 29717
Phone: (803) 925-2815
Fax: (803) 820-5802

York County Magistrate Court - Catawba-Ebenezer (Rock Hill)
529 South Cherry Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 909-7600
Fax: (803) 909-7606

York County Magistrate Court - Centralized DUI Court
529 South Cherry Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 909-7650
Fax: (803) 909-7636

York County Magistrate Court - Fort Mill
114 Springs Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 547-5572
Fax: (803) 547-6344

York County Magistrate Court - York/Bethesda (York)
Moss Justice Center
1675 York Highway, Suite 1D, York, SC 29745
Phone: (803) 628-3029
Fax: (803) 628-3225

Municipal Courts in York County

Clover Municipal Court
110 Bethel Street, P.O. Box 1060, Clover, SC 29710
Phone: (803) 222-4084
Fax: (803) 222-4081

Fort Mill Municipal Court
112 Confederate Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 547-3940 ext. 326

Rock Hill Municipal Court
120 East Black Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 329-5695
Fax: (803) 326-3818

Tega Cay Municipal Court
15077 Molokai Drive, P.O. Box 232, Tega Cay, SC 29716
Phone: (803) 548-4133
Fax: (803) 548-7256

York Municipal Court
York City Hall
10 North Roosevelt Street, York, SC 29745
Phone: 803-628-391